It's the winter of 1935, and Kyle Byland is more than a little stressed this day before Christmas. Tonight, the aspiring young musician is scheduled to perform his first major concert in front of thousands of people. Perhaps his surly attitude can be excused, given the circumstances--the Union Pacific Railroad Dining Car he is riding in has been enveloped in the "white-out" of the worst blizzard in years. His chance at fame may be slipping away. However, his attractive female dinner companion is still determined to have a pleasant conversation with this self-absorbed young man. When the train is forced to stop in what appears to be the middle of nowhere, it seems Kyle and his new friend Martha will be spending a cold and quiet Christmas Eve in Lakeville, along with the other stranded passengers, rather than before the adoring crowd he imagined. But as Kyle sinks into despair, forces are at work to show him a deeper meaning of Christmas, and that the gifts we are given are meant to be shared.